News

By Dan Moffett

    Though their town is built-out, South Palm Beach council members say they want more control over important decisions on development projects.
    So they’re moving forward with changes that will shift power from the architecture and planning boards to the Town Council. Councilwoman Stella Jordan says that’s the way residents want it.
    “From what everyone tells me, they want the final say to be with the council,” she said. “In a town of our size, that’s absolutely doable.”
    The issue of who makes the final call on site plans and variances came up in August when the Architectural Review Board approved Paragon Acquisition Group’s revised design for a six-story condominium project on the site of the Palm Beach Oceanfront Inn.
    Because Paragon’s plan complied with the town’s building rules, the board had to approve it unanimously, 3-0, and the Town Council had little choice but to accept the vote — or run the risk of getting taken to court.
    Council members say that many of their constituents said they were surprised that, given the size of the project and the contentious history of the old Hawaiian hotel property, the town’s elected officials did not get the chance to weigh in on the ultimate design.
    In 2010, after months of heated debate over plans for the troubled site, voters went to the polls and took zoning changes out of the council’s hands, requiring a townwide referendum instead.
    Town Attorney Brad Biggs has drafted a proposed ordinance that will shift the approval power at Town Hall by making the architectural and planning boards advisory panels and transferring the up-or-down vote to the council.
    Biggs warned that some unintended consequences could come with the move, however.
    The council no longer would serve as the destination for appeals when projects are rejected, but instead would become the first, last and only voting entity. If the council turns down a developer, the only option for appeal would be taking the case to the circuit courts.
    Vice Mayor Joe Flagello believes the council and residents understand that a new approach is right for South Palm Beach.
    “I think we know what we’re doing in getting into this,” Flagello said. “I know it’s not typical but it fits for us. Any other town it probably would be a bad idea.”
    Councilman Robert Gottlieb, who has pushed for the change since the Paragon approval, said the proposed ordinance, which is likely to come up for a vote at the Feb. 24 meeting, would put the responsibility where it belongs.
    “The end result is very simple,” Gottlieb said. “The council should have the final say.”
    In other business, the town’s three council members with expiring terms have filed paperwork to enter the March 10 election: Mayor Donald Clayman, Vice Mayor Flaglello and Councilwoman Bonnie Fischer.
    Town voters will also have four charter amendments to decide — proposals that eliminate term limits for the council and advisory boards, and also revisions to the rules for some special elections and screening town manager candidates.